Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott stole the show in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day and proved that he is the "most NFL-ready" running back in the 2016 NFL Draft, according to Bleacher Report's draft scout Matt Miller. Elliott only boosted his NFL draft stock with a four-touchdown performance Friday, and he was already consider a safe first-round pick in 2016.
Many believe that Elliott is the top available back in the 2016 NFL Draft, and that fact that he's well rounded will impress NFL general managers, according to Justis Mosqueda of Bleacher Report. The Buckeyes star running back rushed for 149 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in the Fiesta Bowl and has consistently shown that he produces in big games.
In the 2014 College Football Playoff, Elliott rushed for 476 yards and scored six touchdowns and was a key difference maker in the Buckeyes winning the National Championship. While much of the talk following Friday's anticipated Fiesta Bowl was about Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith's injury and Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa's ejection, Elliott was clearly not forgotten.
Elliott was the most impressive player on the field in the bowl game on Friday and is believed to be a true three-down back at the next level, according to NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
The junior running back has already made it clear that he intends to apply for early entry in the 2016 NFL Draft, and after posting two consecutive seasons with over 1,800 rushing yards, multiple teams will surely be interested. The St. Louis Rams were the first team to take a running back off the board in the 2015 draft with Todd Gurley, and it will be interesting to see where Elliott lands, as plenty of teams are in need of a dynamic playmaker in their backfield.
